Automatic switch-operating device.



1. DE W. SMITH. AUTOMATIC SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. I916.

Pantented July 23, 1918.

JESQUE DE "WITT SMITH, 'T'ULIRK N. ll".

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Specification of Letters Patent. Pafltgmtefll July $3, 1918,.

Application filed May 8, 1916. $eria1No. 96,204.

To aZZ'wiw m it mayconccrn:

Be it known that I, Jnssn D. SMiTi-i, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new i and useful Improvements in Automatic Switch-perating Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

; This invention pertains to the class of automatic switch operating devices, and has particular reference to a switch throwing apparati'ls for use in connection with street railway systems. i

1 The primary object of my invention is to provide an automatic switch throwing mechanism which will be positive in operation, and which will be constantly set to throw a switch, so asto be always ready for the succeeding car, but which may be allowed to remain inoperative so as to leave the switch in the position in which it is found.

Another object of the invention consists in constructing a switch throwing apparatus which may be operated at will by the motorman of an approaching car, the same operation which throws the switch also acting to reset the other switch operating device.

More particularly, it is the object of my invention to provide a switch throwing apparatus which is composed of few and simple parts, so that its installation may be econon'iically effected and its working parts possess small liability of injury and wearing out, the parts being so arranged that the switch is controlled alternatively by each of a pair of trip devices whose interrelation is such that when one trip device is actuated the other acts as a reset to place the mechanism in condition for a subsequent operation.

With the above, and other objects in view, my invention will now be fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

. In said drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the apparatus as arranged below a track,

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through a car platform, showing an actuating device carried thereby,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 8-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 1 is a section on line l-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a section of track and a switch showing the relationship of the trip device for actuating the switch.

Referring more particularly to said drawings, 1 denotes the frame or casing of a long shallow trench or inclosure which is located between the rails 2, adjacent the switch point Said frame 1 may consist of metal plates and beams of any suitable type and arrangement, and supports upon the upright elements 4; 'thetransverse shafts 5. Said shafts 5 carry the bell crank elements (3, each of the bell crank elements 6 having a downwardly extending arm, but one of said elen'ients lying in the reverse position from that occupied by the other. The downwardly extending arms of the bell crank elements 6 are connected by a link rod 7. The opposite or horizontally extending arms of the bell crank lever 6 are each connected. to a vertical shaft 8, the lower ends of the shaft 8 being provided with studs 9 which operate in the horizontally extending slots 10 which are formed in the ends of said horizontally extending arms of the bell crank levers. By reason of the slots 10' any irregularities in the shafts 8 or in the arrangement of the other parts will be taken up. Secured to the upper ends of each. of the shafts 8 is a foot plate 11, said foot plates operating in each of the framed openings 12, located in the frame 1 to appear in the street surface, as best noted in Fig. 5.

The arrangement of the above parts is such that when one of the foot plates 11 is depressed the other will be elevated to a position where it can be engaged by the operating device shown in Fig. 4-. The operating device shown in Fig. 4 consists of a 1'0- tary contact element 13, which has its shaft ends mounted for rotation and vertical movement in the slotted ends of the brack" ets 14 which are suspended below the platform 15 of a car and are suitablybraced at the front and back by means of the brace bar 16. Between the brackets 14:, the contact element 13 is journaled in a yoke 17 whose closed end terminates in a stem 18-.-"Sa-idon the car floor is a coil spring 21 which normally holds the contact wheelvl3 in elevated position. Extending in line with the link rod 7 and pivoted to the same arm of one of the bell crank levers 6, is a second link rod 22 whose opposite end is pivoted to a transversely extending arm 23 formed on a vertical shaft 2 1. Said vertical shaft 24: is pivoted at its lower end in a step bearing 25 carried by the frame, and at its upper end in a bearlng 26 which is also mounted on the frame 1. The upper end of the shaft 24E is fixed to the heel of the switch point 3, so that as said shaft 22L is rotated, the switch point will be swung from one position to the other;

The operation of my improved device is obvious from the foregoing,- and it might be added/that the alternatively acting foot plates 11 provide a constantly set operating mechanism for the switch point, so that regardless of whether a car has thrown the switch so as to leave one of the plates 11 depressed, the motorman of a succeeding car may also operate the switch, by bringing the contact wheel 13 upon his car into operative Uopies of this patent may be obtained for contact with the foot plate 11 which is in elevated position.

' It is also to be noted that by my improved arrangement, a positive switch throwing device is provided whose parts are simple and comparatively few in number, so that when the device has once been installed, its cost of maintenance should be small and that it should remain in operative condition throughout a long period.

What I claim as my invention is A switch operating device comprising the combination with a track section including a pivoted switch point, of a single casing inset in and extending longitudinally of the track section and having a lateral extension at one end projecting under the heel of the switch point, a shaft depending from the heel of the switch point into said lateral extension, a crank arm on the shaft, transverse shafts supported by the sides of the casing at an intermediate portion and at its end remote from said lateral extension, levers pivoted on said transverse shafts, link connections between said levers and crank arm and lever operating members slidable through the top of the casing and connected with said levers.

' In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE DE WITT SMITH. Witnesses MARTHA SMITH, JERE J. BARRY.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

